There are lots of uses for quinoa, not just rice substitution. But what little taste it has is a bit nutty. If you use 2 parts water to 1 part quinoa, it'll boil up just like rice. If you make that chicken, beef, or vegetable broth instead of water, it'll take on those flavors. Try it in Spanish rice or stuffed peppers.
For what it is worth, unlike rice, its protein is complete and fully digestible, where rice needs the complimentary incomplete protein of beans to be useful.
BTW, there are several pre-cooked microwave products that come in a bag you toss in the microwave for 90 seconds that we've found tasty. One is brown rice and quinoa, another is quinoa and red beans. Seeds of Change is one brand we've enjoyed while camping.
Another thing we sometimes do is make quinoa pancakes by adding a tablespoon of baking powder to a cup of quinoa flour, a tablespoon of cooking oil, and "enough" water. No gluten, no egg, no milk, perfect for vegans and folks on gluten free diets, although you can add milk or egg if you want.
